Instagram has unveiled a new feature called 'Instants', designed to enable users to share spontaneous, unfiltered photos that are immediately posted to their followers. However, the rollout has caused frustration among some users who were unaware of the automatic sharing mechanism.
How Instants Works
The feature allows users to take a photo that is instantly sent out to followers. While an 'undo' button is available, many users reported accidentally posting pictures they only intended to test, as the immediate sharing caught them off guard. Instants are ephemeral, appearing alongside direct messages and can only be opened once. Instagram emphasizes that these photos cannot be screenshotted or screen recorded.
User Experience and Complaints
Users can find Instants in their Instagram inbox and may receive notifications when friends share one. A companion app has also been released to facilitate its use. Despite disappearing for followers after being viewed, Instants are saved in a private archive from which they can be posted as a 'recap'. The feature has been noted for borrowing functionality from rival app Snapchat, leading to mixed reactions from the user base.
Many users expressed frustration over the lack of clarity about the instant posting, with some calling for better warnings or opt-in mechanisms. Instagram has not yet announced any changes to address these concerns.
